Re: [Harp-L] Was Rehearsals -- Now Head Dude vs Democracy

[Rick Davis <bluesharpamps@xxxxxxxxx>]

I think a band needs a leader who is an occasional benign and benevolent
dictator.  At some point, somebody has to choose between competing ideas and
opinions regarding songs, arrangements, gigs, etc, etc, etc...

That role has fallen to me in my band.  I make the call when there is a log
jam or when consensus would take too long.  I've played in bands (and known
plenty of other bands) that have a dreamy-eyed vision of some kind of
totally democratic band that shares all decisions and thinks they will end
up agreeing on everything.  There is a word for bands like that:  Defunct.
It never works for long.

I mean, ya don't have to be all Caesar about it, but somebody has to make
the decisions so the band can move on.

-- 
-Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
http://www.bluesharpamps.blogspot.com/



On Thu, Sep 16, 2010 at 10:29 AM, Hal Iwan <haliwan@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Hello All
>
> Great thread Rick !!
>
> While we are on rehearsals how do you guys decide what songs will be
> played? Since there is harp in the band, does the vocalist only choose(too
> many It Hurts Me To)(slow) for my taste or since 3 of us sing should it be a
> democratic process(strings seem to stick together-- 2 guitars & bass)
> leaving only me and the drummer who just wants to play. I want variety of
> grooves and tempos not just songs I/we like/know already. It takes some work
> as stated in earlier reply to Ricks query.           Not sure if this came
> out right.
>
> How do companies suceed? They have a big dog that lays down the program is
> my thinking. I'm thinking of a song on a Robert Cray cd: Too Many Cooks
> Spoil The Stew thing with many bands.
>
> Any thoughts appreciated.
>
> Hal in MI
>